Taiwan: Online visa application with free waiver. Single entry for less than 30 days
Author Archive: PMICHK
US busts fraudulent US$50m investor migration scheme for rich Chinese, including fugitives
US busts fraudulent US$50m investor migration scheme for rich Chinese, including fugitives
Federal agents in California on Wednesday raided two homes and a business allegedly connected to a US$50 million visa fraud scheme that benefited up to 100 Chinese nationals.
Authorities said the key suspects in the case helped wealthy Chinese obtain residency visas in the United States in exchange for bogus investments.
According to an affidavit by an FBI agent involved in the probe, Victoria Chan, a California attorney, and her father, Tat Chan, beginning in 2008 convinced more than 100 Chinese nationals to invest upwards of US$50 million in the California Investment Immigration Fund (CIIF) and related companies in order to obtain visas under the so-called EB-5 program.
The programme offers foreign nationals permanent US residency – commonly known as a green card – in exchange for investments of at least US$500,000 in a US business that must also create 10 American jobs.
“As a result of the fraudulent scheme, many foreign nationals were able to improperly obtain US green cards through the EB-5 visa program, even though those foreigners did not in fact truly invest in US businesses, nor were new American jobs created,” FBI special agent Gary Chen wrote in the affidavit.
Chen said three of those who benefitted from the programme were fugitives on China’s 100 most wanted list, charged with crimes such as bribery and abuse of power.
Victoria Chan and her father allegedly promised investors a full refund on their funds but kept some of the money to buy multi-million-dollar homes for themselves and for Tat Chan’s female companion, Fang Zeng, a Chinese national.
They also submitted plans to federal authorities for various development projects that never got off the ground.
Officials said no arrests have been made yet in the case and no formal charges have been filed.
With the raids Wednesday, during which computers, banking records and other documents related to the alleged scheme are expected to be confiscated, investigators hope to begin to untangle the complicated case. They have yet to determine how many of the Chinese investors were complicit or victims in the alleged fraud, exactly how much money ring leaders actually raised and what has happened to the money.
The EB-5 program was created in 1990 to help stimulate the US economy through job creation and capital investment from foreign nationals.
Nearly 90 per cent of EB-5 visas were issued to Chinese nationals in 2014, when the programme reached its quota of 10,000 visas and had to stop accepting applications.
Concerns over poor oversight and some highly publicized scams led the North American Securities Administrators Association, an advocacy group, to label EB-5-related fraud as one of the top new threats to investors.
Park Hyatt St. Kitts Construction Stage (Update on 20170421)
Please see below link for video tour.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/l0bre6gc4rxby9s/Park%20Hyatt%2018%20April%202017.wmv?dl=0
Turnbull Announces Tougher Citizenship Laws for Australia
- More rigorous citizenship test
- Possession of domestic violence and organized crime history can not be naturalized;
- All applicants must show the steps they have taken to integrate into and contribute to the Australian community (evidence of employment, membership of community organisations, school enrolment for all eligible children);
- Strict English tests, including reading, writing and listening; New citizens will need to show strong English-language skills;
- Permanent residents waiting period from one year to four years
In addition, applicants must stay in Australia for four years before they can apply for naturalization, three more years – up from 12 months now.
“Australian citizenship should be honoured, cherished. It is a privilege.” The prime minister said.
Applicants will only be allowed to fail the citizenship test three times. Need to wait two years to retry.
The new measures will take effect today. Later this year Congress would passed the amendment to trace all new applications from today.
PMIC becomes International Marketing Agent of SKN Citizenship by Investment Applications
Primasia Metropolis Immigration Consulting Limited is now one of the eight official International Marketing Agents of SKN Citizenship by Investment applications.
Link: http://www.ciu.gov.kn/agents/international-marketing-agents/
The Asian Premier of Dream of the Red Chamber (The 45th Hong Kong Arts Festival)
23 March 2017
For almost half a century, the HKAF has brought visionary new works to Hong Kong. This stunning co-production with the San Francisco Opera marks another milestone, which is bound to be a highlight of the Festival’s 45th anniversary.
Hong Kong is the first Asian city to see this new opera after its premiere in San Francisco in September 2016. Primasia supporting the Asian Premier of Dream of the Red Chamber on last Friday 17 March 2017.
Subtle but key differences in Caribbean citizenship programmes
Subtle but key differences in Caribbean citizenship programmes (updated on 23032017)
By Caribbean News Now contributor
MIAMI, USA — It is often tempting to lump together the five citizenship by investment (CBI) programmes of the Eastern Caribbean, with investors assuming that the only difference is the reputation of the island or the price of the passport. This is clearly not the case. While they often share many similarities, not all are created equal.
For example:
1. Saint Lucia citizenship cannot be passed down to future generations, but is limited to the applicants at the time the application is made – so it is not true citizenship, more like residency. This is not the case in Dominica, where full citizenship is passed from parent to child indefinitely.
2. St Kitts and Nevis’s big advantage, shared by Saint Lucia, is that it does not maintain diplomatic relations with China, preferring many years ago to partner with Taiwan instead. As a result, the Chinese love these passports as they feel safer with the Taiwanese. This is an important issue with Antigua and Barbuda, which is very close to China – it built the Sir Vivian Richards cricket stadium among other things – so there is always a perceived risk for Chinese investors that their new citizenship will be revealed to their home government.
3. Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis’s other big advantage is that real estate can be sold after five years to investors who can also use the same piece of real estate to apply for CBI. This is not the case with Antigua and Barbuda or Grenada. In the case of the former, it can only be resold (if the applicant wishes to keep the passport), the project is complete and given progress to date.
4. Grenada’s much-touted selling point is its E-2 investor visa treaty with the United States. The E-2 investor visa allows an individual to enter and work in the US based on an investment he or she will be controlling. This visa must generally be renewed every two years, but there is no limit to how many times one can renew. The investment must be “substantial”. Investor visas are available only to citizens of certain countries, including Grenada. However, applicants must hold a Grenadian passport to apply for this visa but, in order for the E-2 visa to be granted, applicants first have to visit the US embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, and explain their business plan. Officials there are said to baulk at any applicant, who, though they might be holding a Grenadian passport, does not look Grenadian.
Link : http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/headline-Subtle-but-key-differences-in-Caribbean-citizenship-programmes-33872.html
旅外人士盛讚 台灣生活品質全球最佳
網站InterNations公佈排行 台灣未在任一主要評分項目中拿到第一 但整體成績勝過他國 華盛頓31日綜合外電報導 全球最大旅外人士網站InterNations公布2016年生活品質指數排行榜，台灣在上榜的67個國家中拔得頭籌，獲選為生活品質最佳僑居國家，主要原因是醫療品質好而且價格低廉。 InterNations訪問了1萬4300位旅外人士，詢問他們對所居住過的191個國家的觀感，請他們就僑居生活的43個不同面向評分，然後依此列出所謂「生活品質指數」，以總平均分數列出排名，結果台灣脫穎而出，在生活品質最優國家排行榜上勇奪第一。 根據排行榜，第二至10名依序是奧地利、日本、西班牙、哥斯大黎加、馬爾他、捷克共和國、新加坡、德國和瑞士。其中新加坡曾名列第一，但近年生活支出上揚，因此排名滑落至第八。 台灣雖然未在任何主要項目中拿到第一名，但在所有項目中表現都不錯，因此整體成績勝過他國。調查報告中說，受訪者中有令人吃驚的多達99％對在台灣的個人安全持肯定看法，也有89％表示很喜歡台灣的平靜。 台灣在醫療與福祉項目表現最佳，排名所有國家第二，僅次於奧地利。台灣更在這個項目下的醫療品質與價格低廉方面排名第一。 調查也顯示，沒有受訪者認為台灣的氣候和天氣很糟，而且有多達3/4持肯定態度。此外，台灣的外僑有多達91％對運輸設施在整體上感到滿意，遠超過全球平均水準的63％。
Link: http://www.ksnews.com.tw/index.php/news/contents_page/0000949663
Rapid progress made on Cabrits Resort Kempinski in Dominica
Significant progress is evident at the Cabrits Resort Kempinski in Dominica
ROSEAU, Dominica — Over the past few years, the government of Dominica has given the green light for a number of projects under its citizenship by investment (CBI) programme aimed at developing the island’s tourism. The Cabrits Resort Kempinski Dominica is the most advanced and the only project under the CBI programme where any serious construction is underway.
The new resort is expected to be complete by the end of next year and, from a recent site inspection, this target appears achievable.
Construction on the Cabrits Resort Kempinski Dominica began in June last year, with completion of all the structural fabric of the buildings due this August. More than 200 workers are on site daily, with a significant majority from the local community.
“We are making excellent progress,” says Garry Swarbrick, senior project manager, Range Developments, the project’s sponsor. ”All the buildings have been set out, including the main building with the public areas and the nine accommodation units. It’s good to see how well the workforces are co-operating and pulling together.”
Set on the northwest of the island near to the country’s second largest town of Portsmouth, nothing on this scale has been built in Dominica since the Windsor Park cricket pitch ten years ago.
Developed by award-winning international property company Range Developments, the Cabrits Resort Kempinski was designed by Arcadia Design Architects. The building work is being carried out by contractor NH International (Caribbean) Ltd.
It will be run by Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group, Kempinski Hotels, which was founded in 1897 and manages a portfolio of 75 five-star hotels in 31 countries.
On completion, the resort in Douglas Bay will boast a 160-room hotel with a spa, and a selection of swimming pools, beach bars and restaurants.
Link: http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-Rapid-progress-made-on-Cabrits-Resort-Kempinski-in-Dominica-33311.html